Tillamook County has weathered a lot in the past four years. First elected to the Tillamook County Commission in 2020, Erin quickly dove into the work of improving our community. Erin Skaar has been a capable and effective leader, helping us come out the other side stronger and prepared for a better future. her long record of public service has served us well in overcoming these difficult times and is just what we need at the County Commission.
Accomplishments
Accomplishments prior to County Commissioner
In her 10 years as the executive director at CARE Erin has:
Accomplishments
- Took clear action to address the housing shortage in the county.
- Working with developers who constructed a new apartment building with 46 affordable units.
- Updating local county zoning codes to accelerate the creation of more housing that is affordable for local workers and their families.
- Adopted balanced regulations of short-term vacation rentals, informed by 18 months of community conversation, to protect our housing supply, support new housing creation, and preserve community livability.
- Established a coordinated Homeless Services Office for the county and a five-year strategic plan to reduce homelessness. That has already resulted in:
- Funding and the use of a county property to build a new shelter with low barriers for entry and connection to addiction treatment services.
- Securing over $2.25 million in new state funds to address homelessness.
- Accelerated efforts to address substance abuse in our community.
- Founding member of OUR Tillamook to address opioid addiction and implement a $1 million program to increase prevention in the schools and intervention on the streets.
- Providing long-term sustainability to opioid response programs through locally awarded opioid settlement funds.
- Utilizing tax dollars more effectively by reducing the costs for county retirement plans and lowering departments' overhead.
- Expanding recreational opportunities in the county including leading efforts to close gaps in the Oregon Coast Trail, and to begin construction on the Salmonberry Trail.
Accomplishments prior to County Commissioner
In her 10 years as the executive director at CARE Erin has:
- Increased the budget from $500,000 to $3.6 million
- Increased the workforce from 9 employees to over 50 employees
- Created and managed the budget which currently is comprised of more than 40 different funding sources, including multiple State and Federal contracts, foundation grants, and individual donations
- Expanded services to those in need in Tillamook County through the addition of new funding sources and partnerships
- Participated as a leader in the Tillamook County Housing Task Force work to invigorate and focus the housing conversation in Tillamook County
- Created a collaboration to bring funding into Tillamook County for the first affordable housing complex, to be built in 2020, since Champion Park in the early 2000s
Erin Receiving an Award from Kiwanis Club
Community Service Activities
- Kiwanian since 2007
- Kiwanis President 2011-2012
- Kiwanis Coho Classic Fundraiser Co-Chair
- Board Member Tillamook Early Learning Center 2006-2010; Board Chair 2007-2011
- United Way Board 2013-present, Treasurer 2015- present
- Tillamook County Budget Committee 2019
- Adventist Health Citizen Advisory Committee 2015-2018
- Adventist Health Governing Board 2018 to present
- Adventist Health Market Operations Committee 2015-2018
Erin Presenting to a Community Group about Housing Options for Tillamook County
Community Leadership Activities
- Ford Family Foundation Leadership Program Graduate and Lead Trainer
- Facilitated initial City of Manzanita New Building community meeting
- Board Training and Planning Facilitation for Tillamook Chamber
- Futures’ Council Transient Lodging Tax Meeting Facilitation
- Grant writing for Tillamook Early Learning Center, Tillamook 4-H Pavilion Building, and Monday Musical
- Community Vitality Project Co-Leader
- Housing Task Force founding member
- Housing Commission member, current
- Future’s Council Community Advisor 2017- present
- Special Transportation Fund Board Member, 2009 to present
- Emergency Food and Shelter Board Member, Chair 2009 – 2018
- Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund, Tillamook County Board Member 2018 to present
- Co-Administrator of the Social Director Network